On a quiet, gray Saturday morning in late September, little girls in black leotards and pink tights - with many excited moms in tow - began to gather in the lobby of Northrop Auditorium on the University of Minnesota's East Bank. The Joffrey Ballet, the acclaimed Chicago-based company, had invited girls from area dance schools to audition for nearly 60 children's roles in its Dec. 10 performance of “The Nutcracker” in Minneapolis.
“My daughter couldn't sleep last night. She couldn't wait for today,” said Shelly Johnson, whose 9-year-old daughter Emily has been dancing for six years.
Linda Kongsvik's daughter McKenna, also 9 (and a good friend of Emily's), had spent the morning warming up by doing leaps and stretches.
“It's a fun thing for the girls to do together,” said Linda, “and it's a great opportunity for them to learn from highly professional dancers.”
“The chance to work with dancers from different studios, to see what it's like to be part of a professional company - it's good exposure,” claimed Shelley. “And there's a certain level of excellence with ‘The Nutcracker.'”
The Joffrey hasn't performed at Northrop since 1994, before many of these young dancers were even born. Nevertheless, the girls knew all about “The Nutcracker;” they'd either seen it themselves, or a family member had once danced in a performance of the show, or details about the experience had simply trickled down from dance class to dance class. By the time they'd arrived at Northrop that morning, it was clear from the looks on their faces that “The Nutcracker” had become a larger-than-life legend.
Happy nutcrackers
The dancers were called by age groups onto Northrop's bare stage - completely empty, except for a piano resting in a corner and three women sitting on metal folding chairs in the center. Ballet
mistresses Charthel Arthur and Tina Anderson and assistant Debbie Mielke stood to greet the group of dancers. Professional beyond their years, the girls immediately found space on the floor to warm up for a few minutes. They then listened intently as Anderson gave instructions for a dancing sequence. They practiced the sequence in parts, then gradually cobbled it together with the help of the piano. The girls danced stiffly at first, but as the audition progressed, their confidence grew. Throughout, Anderson gave kind instructions and complimentary feedback: “Very nice, ladies. Very good. Remember to smile! Our nutcrackers are happy nutcrackers.”
At day's end, all 40 dancers had secured roles in the December performance. Giddy with excitement and relief, the girls mingled on stage after the audition, clutching rehearsal paperwork and hugging each other. They'd begin rehearsals the next week, meeting twice a week through October and November. The heavy time commitment, though, seemed to be the furthest thing from their minds. They were just happy they were in.
“I was kind of shaking at the beginning, but then I relaxed,” said Brittney Moncrief, 10.
“My mom said to relax and just do your best,” explained Madeline Reesor, 9.
“It was like a ride [at an amusement park] that looks scary but turns out to be fun,” said Lily Burke, 9. “I didn't want to go on, but I'm glad I did!”
And why did they want to be a part of this performance? Dancing is fun, they explained. It's a good way to make new friends. And, hey, “The Nutcracker” is just plain cool.
Being ‘performance ready'
Area dance schools regularly receive information about upcoming performances such as the Joffrey's “Nutcracker.” Dixie Rairamo, director of the Youth Dance Ensemble & School in Burnsville, believes that participating in performances outside of the dance school can be beneficial and educational.
“It's important to provide students with the most opportunities to perform,” says Rairamo. “Our job is to inspire.”
The Youth Dance Ensemble enrolls nearly 100 students; of those, Rairamo estimates that over half participate in supplementary shows throughout the year. “The Nutcracker” is a particularly popular performance, and many students from Youth Dance Ensemble performed in the Moscow Ballet's version in November.
“There's a certain magic and beauty and richness to ‘The Nutcracker,'” she says. “Every little girl dreams of being the Sugar Plum Fairy.”
Dance schools like the Youth Dance Ensemble prepare students for the audition process.
“Ongoing preparation helps students understand constructive criticism, develop technical precision, and learn to be quick on their feet,” Rairamo says. “Traveling companies want to work with students who know dance vocabulary and who are performance-ready.”
As a result, Rairamo and her staff conduct mock auditions throughout the year, so that students can practice receiving feedback and performing in front of unfamiliar faces. They also help them prepare for the inevitable rejection.
“We try to instill in them the understanding that not every role is made for every student,” she explains. “And sometimes it has nothing at all to do with the quality of the dancing - a company might simply be looking for a dancer of a particular height, for example. It's important for students to know that and not take it too personally.”
Parents play an important role during auditions as well, and Rairamo advises parents to listen to their child for cues about how they're handling pressure, rehearsal schedules, and other matters.
“The student's well-being is what's most important,” she says. “Part of my job is to guide parents into roles of support.”
Rairamo sees auditions and performances as a chance to cultivate future patrons of the arts at a young age. “I want kids to enjoy art now so they continue to value it and support it when they're older.”
Plenty of nuts to crack
The Joffrey Ballet's “Nutcracker” isn't the only chance you'll have to see this holiday favorite. Several other companies are performing their own unique and noteworthy versions.
Adventures in Music for Families: Swinging Nutcracker Returns
Dec. 4, Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis. This swinging rendition of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker offers a jazzy twist and ballet and modern dancers. 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets $19-$35. 612-371-5600. http://www.MinnesotaOrchestra.org
Loyce Houlton's “Nutcracker Fantasy”,br>Dec. 15, Minnesota Dance Theatre, State Theatre, 850 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis. Through December 19. Minnesota Dance Theatre brings together Tchaikovsky's music and the choreography of Loyce Houlton. Tickets $25-$46. 612-338-0627. http://www.MNdance.org
“The Nutcracker”
Dec. 16, Ballet Minnesota, O'Shaughnessy Auditorium, College of St. Catherine, 2004 Randolph St., St. Paul. Through December 18. Ballet Minnesota's interpretation of this holiday classic boasts over 130 international, national, and local dancers. 8 p.m. Friday; 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets $12-$35. 651-690-6700. http://www.BalletMinnesota.org
Continental Ballet Company: “Nutcracker Ballet”
Dec. 17, Sheldon Theatre, 443 W. 3rd St., Red Wing. Also December 18. This performance brings together a professional company of dancers, local elementary school students, and the Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra. 7:30 p.m. (3 p.m. Sunday.) Adults $23, students $14. 800-899-5759. http://www.SheldonTheatre.org.
“The Nutcracker & the Mouse King”
Dec. 1, Commonweal Theatre Company, St. Mane Theatre, 206 Parkway Ave. N., Lanesboro. Through Dec. 23. Based on the book by E.T.A. Hoffman, from which the Tchaikovsky ballet evolved, the Commonweal's adaptation harkens back to Hoffman's original 1816 story about a young girl named Maria and an enchanted nutcracker. Tickets $20. 800-657-7025. http://www.CommonwealTheatre.org
